Fall Assumptions

Isaac Asimov once said, “Your assumptions are your windows on the world. Scrub them off every once in a while, or the light won't come in.” So as we head into the final stretches of our gardens, do not assume your plants won’t require certain care before it’s time to set them off to bed. And don’t think the planting season is all but gone. For folks still in planting mode, please make note.

With deciduous woody plant materials, you can plant many deciduous trees and shrubs with the exception of transplanting those considered fall hazards, i.e., nut trees and pitted fruit trees. The rule of thumb for deciduous woody plant material - if the plant is shutting down or going dormant for the season and the ground is not frozen or saturated mud, it is an ideal time to get this classification of plants installed and tucked in for the winter. You can plant until the ground freezes.

It’s also the time of year to be planting your Peonies and bulbs. There were earlier 'heads-up' warnings so let's hope you took that advice. Ready to skip into the vegetable mode? Get your garlic sets put aside as that planting will take place soon, too. But back to Peonies, one of the longest lived perennials and a must-have for any garden. If you intend on transplanting to spread the love, this task is always done in the fall. Check out this detailed video on Dividing Peonies from +Fine Gardening. It is a must see, informative view before you start digging away. 

If you’re done with shovels and wheel barrels full of plants and the shift has gone from decorating with pumpkins or picking apples instead, remember to deadhead and clean the perennial beds. It’s not time to abandon ship on your garden, at least not yet.

There’s a whole list of fall assumptions but let’s sparkle just a few windows at a time to let this morning’s sunlight in. Speaking of sparkle, here’s wishing Yosemite National Park a happy 123rd birthday. It’s a magical place and one I can say 'I'm glad I’ve been.’

Image by Ann Bilowz  © Paeonia lactiflora 'Sarah Bernhardt'

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